By Priyajit Debsarkar

August is a historic month in Afghanistan, from the fall of Kabul to that of Sheikh Hasina, days of uncertainty not only for Bangladesh but beyond. The West has learned the hard way that the narrative peddled by the deep state of Pakistan to differentiate self-inflicted and premeditated terror attacks.

Gresham’s law, good money succumbs to the bad, so it did in Afghanistan when the Pakistani propaganda of two different forms of devil. One is perceived as superior in comparison to the inferior. Hoping against hope is the overwhelming phenomenon of blind belief that there may be a different outcome this time around. The Jamaat E Islami has been reported by the Washington Post to have had arrangements with the West, should it win the upcoming elections on 12th February. The International Mother Language Day, 21st February, a red-letter day for language. It was the day when Bengali youth stood up in defiance of an alien one-language policy, tyranny, and oppression. 12th February looks like an exact mirror reflection of the twenty-first, implying there is a looming threat of turning the clock backward. The Jamat has promised to reform and have a reincarnation; however, there is significant baggage that the Jamat still carries. When it comes to women’s rights and especially their participation in the country’s economy, including politics there infrastructure is quite rigid, uncompromising as a manifesto pledge.

Lady Luck is possibly the last resort to overcome repetitive losses and turn the tables of misfortune around. Unfortunately, this time around, she seems distinctly missing. There are questions of voter turnout, given that the party synonymous with Bangladesh’s independence has been suspended from contesting. Participation of women in the Bengali identity is a crucial ingredient not only in politics but also in education, arts, culture, sports, encompassing the economy. It encapsulates every aspect of today’s life, including the demographic social makeup. Bangladesh has seen phenomenal growth when it comes to key women’s improvement indicators, economically, socially, especially during the surge in ready-made garments and cash crop exports. The woman forms the critical backbone of this engine. Hence, any reduction or curtailment of women’s rights in decision-making key positions or day-to-day working and engaging in freedom of speech expression, finances will have a dangerous, detrimental effect not only for the moment but for long term reputation of Bangladeshi exports globally. Under the current era of a tariffs trade weaponization, Bangladesh has to rely heavily on its key asset, an ergonomically economic workforce that provides an advantage over competing manufacturing hubs. Unfortunately, it seems that the gap is narrowing for Bangladesh, and other countries are quickly closing the race to secure and deliver global orders.

Inclusive void, Bangladesh was born by the penultimate sacrifice of millions in blood, sweat, and tears. The architect of this independence, father of the nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, may have been temporarily omitted, but cannot be erased from history. The dream of a real Asian tiger, Bangladesh, had achieved the unimaginable during the post-pandemic pandemic of COVID, is evaporating briskly. The Awami League has been suspended from all Political activities, anecdotally still enjoys credible popular support among the masses. It is the laws of physics that a vacuum, even if created artificially over time, will be filled back with new matter.

Apart from the general election, a referendum is also being held in parallel, with implications to change the secular democratic configuration of the constitution. The pillars of the people, once damaged is extremely back-breaking to be re constructed. Whilst the West is ambitious that the party which was ideologically opposed to the idea of a partitioned Pakistan, be given the reins of the government. Paradoxes of possibilities are about to unfold soon, whilst the world watches, anticipating a complete reset or a resurgent remorse.

Author – Priyajit Debsarkar, http://www.priyajit.co.uk

Views expressed in this article are of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publication, The Indo-Pacific Politics.